This Weekend in Sports: The NFL Is Back and U.S. Open Tennis

The sports calendar features the start of the 2013 NFL season and tennis crowning its final Grand Slam champions of the year. Here's what to watch this weekend:

Friday, September 6

2013 U.S. Open Tennis — Women's Semifinals

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing, N.Y.; 12:30 p.m. (ET) on CBS, through Sept. 9
Top-seeded Serena Williams takes on No. 5 Li Na in one U.S. Open women's semifinal, while unseeded Flavia Pennetta attempts to knock off No. 2 Victoria Azarenka in the other match. The winners play on Sunday for the title.

Saturday, September 7

2013 U.S. Open Tennis — Men's Semifinals

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing, N.Y.; 12 p.m. (ET) on CBS, through Sept. 9
Second-seeded Rafael Nadal will play No. 8 Richard Gasquet in one U.S. Open men's semifinal, while Thursday's quarterfinal matches will determine if top-seeded Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Andy Murray will join them. The winners of Saturday's matches play on Monday for the title.

(12) Florida at Miami (Fla.)

Sun Life Stadium, Miami; 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The unranked Miami Hurricanes could vault into the A.P. Top 25 by beating their intra-state rivals, the No. 12 Florida Gators. The Hurricanes offense is led by bruising running back Duke Johnson. The Gators will rely on quarterback Jeff Driskel to pick apart the Miami secondary.

(6) South Carolina at (11) Georgia

Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.; 4:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
After a difficult loss at Clemson last week, No. 11 Georgia returns home to face the No. 6 Gamecocks of South Carolina. Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray can make things happen on offense, but he'll have to be wary of South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Gamecocks running back Mike Davis will test a Georgia defense that gave up several big plays against Clemson.

Federated Auto Parts 400

Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Va.; 7:44 p.m. (ET) on ABC
NASCAR's Sprint Cup series pulls into Richmond for its last race before the Chase for the Championship begins in Chicago next weekend. Jimmie Johnson is still the standings leader, with second-place Clint Bowyer 28 points behind and Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards each 42 points off the lead.

(14) Notre Dame at (17) Michigan

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.; 8 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
Fourteenth-ranked Notre Dame renews its rivalry with No. 17 Michigan at the Big House in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines will rely on quarterback Devin Gardner to break down the Fighting Irish defense, while Notre Dame hopes senior quarterback Tommy Rees can play as crisply as he did against Temple in Week 1.

Sunday, September 8

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.; 1:05 p.m. (ET) on TBS
The last time the New York Yankees (75-64) played the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox (84-57), benches cleared after Alex Rodriguez got beaned. On Sunday afternoon, the Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda (11-10, 2.99 ERA) to the mound to face the Boston bats, while the Sox start Jon Lester (13-8, 3.88 ERA) against the rejuvenated New York lineup.

Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

Candlestick Park, San Francisco; 4:25 p.m. (ET) on Fox
Two of the NFL's best franchises open their 2013 season with a rematch from last year's NFC playoffs. The Green Bay Packers couldn't stop San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the ground or through the air during their postseason meeting in January. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have rookie running back Eddie Lacy to help diversify the Green Bay attack on the Niners stout defense.